Benteler Steel means big bucks for black businesses

The Minority Supplier Institute believes it can close the enormous income gap between blacks and whites in our community by helping minority-owned businesses prosper.

The non-profit started in the spring of 2012. Currently, its priority is helping black-owned businesses secure construction bids on the near billion dollar Benteler Steel Project. The new steel plant is being built on at the Port of Caddo-Bossier.

Henderson Construction Service secured a $4 million contract to construct the roads around the plant. T & M Fence Company is building a 17,000 ft. fence around the 300 acre Benteler leased property.

"We have a huge income disparity between the races here and what’s so important, there’s a vehicle like the Minority Supplier Institute to help these businesses grow,” said David Aubrey, Executive Director of the Minority Supplier Institute. “As minority businesses, as black owned businesses grow, then they tend to hire more minority employees."

About 1,000 construction workers are expected to build the Benteler Steel Plant. It's set to open late 2015, bringing 675 good paying jobs to our area.